At tonight’s Emmy Awards, a number of actors and producers are hoping to write their names into the TV record books.

If AMC’s “Mad Men” wins again this year, it will be the first drama to ever five-peat. If “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston takes home the Emmy, he’ll join former “NYPD Blue” standout Dennis Franz as the only other four-time winner in the lead actor in a drama series category. Should Jim Parsons of “The Big Bang Theory” take the stage for the lead actor in a comedy series award, he’ll three-peat–that hasn’t been done since Michael J. Fox’s run of three in a row ended in 1988. Should “Modern Family” emerge victorious, it would be the fifth comedy series to win three times straight.

“American Horror Story” is tied with “Mad Men” with 17 nominations, the most of any programs tonight; the latter show will get strong competition in the best drama category from critical favorite “Homeland,” “Downton Abbey,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Breaking Bad.” “American Horror Story,” nominated for best miniseries or TV movie, will have to hold off “Hatfields & McCoys,” (nominated 16 times) and “Game Change,” among other programs.

HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which has gotten seven comedy series nominations without a win, could be seen by some as overdue for a victory, but the show would need to upset “Modern Family” to take home the prize, and also beat out HBO’s buzzed-about newcomer “Girls.” Some members of the “Modern Family” cast are also waiting for their first wins for the show, including actors Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sofia Vergara and Ed O’Neill, who are all nominated tonight.

“Mad Men” star Jon Hamm, who has been nominated five times for lead actor in a drama series for his work on the show, has yet to take home an Emmy in the category, and is up for the honor again.

It’s been 17 years since “Homeland” co-star Claire Danes was nominated as a lead actress in a drama series (for “My So-Called Life”) and tonight in the category she takes on “The Good Wife” star Julianna Margulies, who won the award last year and over the years has been nominated nine times, with seven of those nods coming for lead actress.

“Big Bang” star Parsons is the two-time defending lead comedy actor, but comic Louis C.K. collected seven nods–the most received by any one person in a single year–for his show “Louie” as well as his special “Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre.”